Recording medium for storing version information for maintaining recording and/or reproducing compatibility, and method and apparatus for managing the same

ABSTRACT

A method of recording read/write compatibility information on an optical disc. Extended part version information, latest part version having recording capability, and latest part version having reproducing capability are stored in either n.xy or n.x. form on 6 bytes of a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of the optical disc. A recording/reproducing apparatus to record extended part version information on a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of a recording medium. The recording/reproducing apparatus has a base part version and a comparing unit to determine recording/reproducing compatibility with a recording medium having a detailed extended part version stored in a reserved zone of a physical format information zone.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/214,452, filed Jun. 28, 2000, the disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.09/650,858 filed on Aug. 29, 2000, now pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to an optical recording medium andrecording/reproducing from the optical recording medium, and moreparticularly, to an optical recording medium for storing part versioninformation for determining whether or not recording compatibilityand/or reproducing compatibility can be maintained when data is recordedand updated on/reproduced from the optical recording medium, and amethod and apparatus for managing the part version information.

[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0006] A recording/reproducing apparatus and a recording medium complywith a specification set at any given time, but due to the addition ofnew functions, and improvements in the performance of functions, thespecification changes. The specification is changed in order to maintaincompatibility with existing recording/reproducing apparatuses orrecording media, but in some cases, partial compatibility is lost inorder to extend functions or improve performance.

[0007] In general, a recording medium (such as an optical disc), whichcomplies with specifications has areas for storing a variety ofinformation which represent the physical/logical structure andcharacteristics of the recording medium, and such information includesinformation on allocation on the physical recording medium, informationon recording/reproducing characteristics, information for managingdefects, information on the organization of logical recording spaces,etc.

[0008] A control information zone which records this information notonly has a zone for recording this information, but also a reservedzone, which enables the addition of information related tocharacteristics of the recording medium or recording/reproducingapparatus in accordance with newly appearing functions or improvement inperformance.

[0009] However, when a specification is revised due to these additionalfunctions and improvements, compatibility may not be maintained.Furthermore, handling newly added information in an existing recordingmedium and recording/reproducing apparatus becomes another problem.

[0010] In order to solve these problems, the digital versatile disc(DVD) specification makes it a rule to record part version informationon a disc. As shown in FIG. 1, this information is recorded in the firstbyte in the physical format information of a control data block in thelead-in zone of the disc.

[0011]FIG. 1 illustrates part version information of the existing DVD.An ordinary DVD has a lead-in zone which is a data zone for helpingrecording/reproducing in the starting part of a disc. This lead-in zonehas a control data block zone which can record control information. Thiscontrol data block zone is again divided into a physical formatinformation zone, a disc manufacturer information zone, and a contentsprovider information zone.

[0012] In the existing digital versatile disc-read only memory(DVD-ROM), digital versatile disc-random access memory (DVD-RAM), etc.,part version information is recorded in BP0, the first byte in thephysical format information zone as shown in FIG. 1. The first byte BP0is divided into two 4-bit pieces of information, one for book type,which indicates the type of a specification book, and the other for apart version, which indicates the part version of a specification book.A disadvantage of this arrangement is that only 4 bits can be used inexpressing all part versions, thus only limited versions can beexpressed. That is, 4 bits can represent only 16 different part versionswhich are presented in the form of n.x.

[0013] Meanwhile, when a disc which can record/update or reproduce datais installed in a recording/reproducing apparatus, the part version in aphysical format information zone is read and then it is determinedwhether or not the part version can be recorded/updated or reproduced inthe recording/reproducing apparatus. Such a determination can be madebecause the drive of the apparatus has the part version which was a basein designing the recording/reproducing apparatus, and the drive also hasinformation on part versions that have compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus (among all part versions that had beenknown until the recording/reproducing apparatus was made).

[0014] This arrangement is disadvantageous because the part versionshown in FIG. 1 only contains part versions that had been in existenceat the time the corresponding recording medium was made, and thereforemay not be compatible with part versions revised after the time ofmanufacturing.

[0015] The same holds true for information on the physical formatinformation zone. When new data is recorded (due to revision) in areserved zone, or the physical format information zone, it is unclearwhether the recording/reproducing apparatus will be compatible with therevised specification.

[0016] In a normal reproduction-dedicated disc, no fatal errors (such aserasing recorded information) will occur when it is determined that azone is a physical format information zone reserved by the specificationat the time of designing the reproducing apparatus. Therefore, a methodis used which ignores reserved physical formation information and thelike. This is done to minimize booting time for reading or writing in arecording medium at initialization. Also, even when certain data existsin the zone, the reproducing apparatus cannot determine what operationsto perform.

[0017] However, ignoring information in the reserved zones can causeproblems. When the information in the physical format information zone(determined to be a reserved zone by the specification of a disc)defines other characteristics of recording/reproducing, the differencebetween characteristics in recording/reproducing can cause therecordation of wrong information, the loss of recorded information,updating failure, or loss of existing recorded information.

[0018] For example, when recording prevention information for data isrecorded in a reserved physical format information zone, arecording/reproducing apparatus having a previous specification cannotrecognize this recording prevention information, and therefore, recordeddata can be erased or updated even when the user sets a protection modeby using recording prevention information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea recording medium for storing extended version information to determinein a recording/reproducing apparatus whether or not recording/updatingor reproducing can be performed on the recording medium which is made incompliance with a newly revised specification.

[0020] It is another object to provide a recording medium for storingthe latest part version that can maintain recording/updatingcompatibility and the latest part version that can maintain reproducingcompatibility, when part versions are recorded so that a recordingmedium having an updated specification can correctly record/update orreproduce data in a recording/reproducing apparatus having an existingspecification.

[0021] It is another object to provide a managing method for correctlyoperating a recording/reproducing apparatus without damaging user dataor without reproducing wrong information, making therecording/reproducing apparatus determine whether or not a recordingmedium for recording/updating or reproducing can be handled withcompatibility, using extended part version information recorded on therecording medium.

[0022] It is another object to provide a managing method for reducingtime in reading and writing data on a recording medium by processing thereserved zone in a control information zone, based upon extended partversion information recorded on the recording medium.

[0023] It is another object to provide an apparatus forrecording/reproducing without damaging user data or without reproducingwrong information by determining whether or not a recording medium forrecording/updating or reproducing can be handled with compatibility,using extended part version information.

[0024] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be setforth in part in the description which follows, and, in part, will beobvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of theinvention.

[0025] The foregoing objects of the present invention are achieved byproviding a method of recording compatibility information on a recordingmedium, comprising providing a physical format information zone having areserved zone, and recording extended part version information in thereserved zone of the physical format information zone. The extended partversion information comprises a detailed extended part version, a latestpart version having recording compatibility, and a latest part versionhaving reproducing compatibility. The detailed extended part version,latest part version having recording compatibility, and latest partversion having reproducing compatibility are in the form n.xy or n.x.

[0026] The above objects of the present invention may also be achievedwith a recording medium comprising a physical format information zonehaving a reserved zone and extended part version information in thereserved zone. This extended part version information comprises adetailed extended part version, a latest part version having recordingcompatibility, and a latest part version having reproducingcompatibility, all recorded in the form n.xy or n.x. The reserved zoneis 6 bytes in size, and the detailed extended part version, latest partversion having recording compatibility, and latest part version havingreproducing compatibility are each 2 bytes in size.

[0027] The above objects of the present invention may also be achievedwith a method of determining compatibility between a recording mediumand a recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising installing therecording medium in the recording/reproducing apparatus, comparing abase part version of the recording/reproducing apparatus with a detailedextended part version stored in a reserved zone of a physical formatinformation zone of the recording medium, and determining recordingcompatibility based upon comparing the base part version with thedetailed extended part version. This method further comprises comparingthe base part version with a latest part version having a recordingcompatibility, in order to determine the recording compatibility. Thismethod further comprises comparing the base part version with a latestpart version having a reproducing compatibility, to determine thereproducing compatibility.

[0028] The above objects of the present invention may also be achievedwith a recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising a control means torecord extended part version information on a reserved zone of aphysical format information zone of a recording medium.

[0029] The above objects of the present invention may also be achievedwith a recording/reproducing apparatus having a base part version thatreceives a recording medium having a detailed extended part versionstored in a reserved zone of a physical format information zone. Acomparing unit compares the base part version with the detailed extendedpart version in the reserved zone of the recording medium to determinerecording and reproducing compatibility between the recording medium andthe recording/reproducing apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] These and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which:

[0031]FIG. 1 illustrates part version information in the existingdigital versatile discs (DVD);

[0032]FIG. 2 illustrates part version information for maintainingrecording and/or reproducing compatibility according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 3A illustrates the reading and writing compatibility betweena disc in which part version information is recorded by the existingmethod, and a drive for determining the part version information. FIG.3B illustrates the reading and writing compatibility between a disc, inwhich part version information for maintaining recording and/orreproducing compatibility according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention is recorded, and a drive for determining the part versioninformation;

[0034]FIG. 4 illustrates part version information for maintainingrecording and/or reproducing compatibility according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

[0035]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an optical recording/reproducingapparatus to which the present invention is applied; and

[0036]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a method ofmanaging part version information for maintaining recording/reproducingcompatibility according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike elements throughout.

[0038]FIG. 2 illustrates part version information for maintainingrecording and/or reproducing compatibility according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

[0039] In order to solve the problem that the 4 bits in the physicalformat information zone of FIG. 1 are not enough to express all partversions, part values may also be defined in other locations. The valueof these 4 bits indicates that the part version is defined in anotherlocation, namely the location of an extended part version shown in FIG.2.

[0040] By using data in a reserved zone that is not used in the existingphysical format information zone, extended part version information isrecorded. An extended part version includes:

[0041] 1) a detailed extended part version;

[0042] 2) the latest part version having recording (write)compatibility; and

[0043] 3) the latest part version having reproducing (read)compatibility.

[0044] The marking method of a part version according to the this firstembodiment uses 6-byte reserved bytes that are not used in a zone forrecording physical format information in the existing DVD specification.A detailed extended part version is recorded on the first two reservedbytes (RBP0, RBP1), which correspond to BP17, BP 18 of the physicalformat information zone. Within these bytes, the highest 4 bits (b12-15)are allotted as reserved bits. In the next 4 bits (b8-b11), the integerpart of the part version is written in hexadecimal numbers, and in thenext 4 bits (b4-b7), the first decimal place of the part version iswritten in hexadecimal numbers. In the lowest 4 bits (b0-b3), the seconddecimal place of the part version is written in hexadecimal numbers. Theadvantage of this marking method is that more detailed specificationscan be marked compared to the existing 4-bit marking method.

[0045] The latest part version having recording (write) compatibility iswritten in RBP2 and RBP3, and the latest part version having reproducing(read) compatibility is written in RBP4 and RBP5, both using the samemarking method. (Reserved byte positions RB2-RB5 correspond to BP19-BP22of the physical format information zone).

[0046] As an example of a specification expressed according to thisembodiment, part version 2.03 is expressed in hexadecimal ‘0203h’.Therefore, while the existing method expresses a part version in theform of n.x, this first embodiment expresses an extended part versionn.xy. Here, n represents a specification change, x represents aspecification change having no compatibility, and y represents a minorchange having recording/reproducing compatibility, for example, theaddition of an additional function. In FIG. 2, a new part version isdefined, including an extended part version, the latest part versionhaving reproducing compatibility, and the latest part version havingrecording compatibility. However, the present invention permits manyvariations, for example, a part version having only an extended partversion, and no latest part version reproducing or latest part versionrecording information.

[0047] In order to assure compliance with changing industryspecifications, b0-b15 are set to ‘0000h’ if a part version extension isnot available, or does not contain any functional change. If the seconddecimal place is not available, or does not contain any functionalchange, then b0-b3 are set to ‘1111h’. This will keep the disc withinspecification if the industry format book changes in the future.

[0048] For information on the newly defined part version, the reservedzone that is not used in the physical format information zone can beused. For example, the 6 bytes from the 17th byte to the 22nd byte inthe physical format information zone can be used. Thus, RBP0 in FIG. 2corresponds to BP17 of the physical format information zone, RBP1corresponds to BP18, etc.

[0049] The latest part version having recording compatibility indicatesthat the corresponding recording medium, which was manufactured basedupon the specification defined in an extended part version, can recordand update data, maintaining compatibility with a recording/reproducingapparatus, which was manufactured based upon the latest part versionhaving recording compatibility.

[0050] The latest part version having reproducing compatibilityindicates that the corresponding recording medium, which wasmanufactured based upon the specification defined in an extended partversion, can correctly read recorded data, maintaining compatibilitywith a recording/reproducing apparatus, which was manufactured basedupon the latest part version having reproducing compatibility.

[0051] Therefore, when a recording medium having an arbitrary partversion is installed in a recording/reproducing apparatus which wasmanufactured based upon a specification having a predetermined partversion, the apparatus operates based upon the part version which was abase of the recording/reproducing apparatus, the detailed part versionof the recording medium, the latest part version having recordingcompatibility, and the latest part version having reproducingcompatibility.

[0052] That is, when the base part version of the recording/reproducingapparatus is a version prior to the latest part version having recordingcompatibility, writing is prohibited to prevent damaging data or errors.When the base part version of the recording/reproducing apparatus camelater than the latest part version having recording compatibility withthe recording medium, recording and updating can be performed.

[0053] The same operation applies with respect to determiningreproducing compatibility.

[0054]FIG. 3A illustrates the reading and writing compatibility betweena disc, in which part version information is recorded by the existingmethod, and a drive for determining the part version information. FIG.3B illustrates this same reading and writing compatibility when the partversion information is recorded according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention. That is, in the prior art, when a disc 1 with partversion 2.0 is installed in a drive 3 with part version 2.0, reproducing(reading) and recording (writing) data on/from the disc 1 can beperformed. However, when the disc 2 with part version 2.3 is installedin drive 3 with part version 2.0, it is unclear whether or not therecording medium has compatibility with the drive.

[0055] However, as shown in FIG. 3B, in the first embodiment of thepresent invention, when a disc 11 with extended part version 2.0, alatest reproducing (read) compatible part version of 1.9, and a latestrecording (write) compatible part version of 1.9, is installed in adrive 13 with part version 2.0, or in a drive 14 with part version 1.9,it is clear that reproducing and recording data on/from the disc 11 canbe performed. Furthermore, when a disc 12 with extended part version2.3, whose latest part version having reproducing compatibility is 1.9,and whose latest part version having recording compatibility is 2.0 isinstalled in the drive 13 whose part version is 2.0, it is clear thatrecording and reproducing data on/from the disc 12 can be performed,while the disc 12 is installed in the drive 14 whose part version is1.9, it is clear that reproducing data from the disc 12 can be performedbut recording data on the disc 12 cannot be performed.

[0056]FIG. 4 illustrates part version information for maintainingrecording and/or reproducing capability according to a second embodimentof the present invention.

[0057] This embodiment uses 2 bytes (RBP0,RBP1) in the physical formatinformation zone, and expresses part version as two digits. Within thesebytes, the highest 4 bits (b12-15) are an identification for extendedpart version. If extended part version is used, then this field is setto ‘1000’h. If extended part version is not used, then this field is setto 10000’h. The next 4 bits (b8-11) are reserved. The next 4 bits (b4-7)record the primary digit of the part version, and the lowest 4 bits(b0-3) record the first sub-digit of the part version. Reserved bytesRBP2-RBP5 are bit mapped in a like manner.

[0058] This embodiment may be used when the part version is not alreadydefined in BP0. When the part version is not already defined at BP0, thepart version field is set to ‘1111’h. When the part version is alreadydefined at BP0, then the method of recording extended part version ofthis second embodiment is not necessary.

[0059]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an audio/video (A/V) datarecording/reproducing apparatus 170 to implement the present invention.The function of the apparatus can be divided into recording andreproducing. Also, a recording medium according to the present inventioncan be designed so that reproducing compatibility can be determined whenthe medium is installed in a reproducing apparatus having only areproducing function.

[0060] In recording, an A/V codec and/or host interface 110 compressesand encodes, in a predetermined compression scheme, an A/V signal inputfrom the outside, and supplies information on the size of the compresseddata. A digital signal processor (DSP) 120 receives the compressed A/Vdata from the A/V codec and/or host interface 110, adds additional datafor error correction code (ECC) processing, and modulates the data in apredetermined modulation scheme. A high frequency amplifier (referred toas RF AMP) 130 converts the modulated data supplied from the DSP 120into an RF signal. A pick-up unit 140 records the RF signal suppliedfrom the RF AMP 130 onto a disc installed on a turntable. Servo unit 150receives information required for servo control from a system controller160 and stably performs a servo function for the installed disc.

[0061] When data stored on the disc is reproduced, the pick-up unit 140picks up data from the disc in the form of an optical signal, and thedata is extracted from the optical signal. The RF AMP 130 converts theoptical signal into an electrical signal, and extracts a servo signaland modulated data in order to perform a servo function. The DSP 120demodulates the modulated data supplied from the RF AMP 130 in a schemecorresponding to the modulation scheme which was used in modulation, andperforms ECC to correct errors and to remove additional data. The servounit 150 receives information required for servo control from the RF AMP130 and the system controller 160, and stably performs the servofunction. The A/V codec and/or host interface 110 decodes compressed A/Vdata supplied from the DSP 120 and outputs an A/V signal. The systemcontroller 160, which supplies an interface to a user, controls theentire system.

[0062] When the disc is initialized, the system controller 160 generatesthe extended part version, the latest part version having reproducingcompatibility, and the latest part version having recordingcompatibility with the disc installed in a recording/reproducingapparatus. The system controller 160 then records this information onthe reserved zone of the physical format information zone in the controldata block of the disc through the DSP 120, the RF AMP 130, and thepick-up unit 140.

[0063] When data is recorded/updated, the system controller 160 controlsthe recording operation by determining permission or prohibition ofrecording/updating data, based upon the extended part version and thelatest part version having recording compatibility, and then informs auser of the result of this determination through a user interface (notshown).

[0064] Likewise, when data is reproduced, the system controller 160controls the reproducing operation by determining permission orprohibition of reproducing data, based on the extended part version andthe latest part version having reproducing compatibility, and theninforms the user of the result of this determination through the userinterface.

[0065]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a method ofmanaging part version information for maintaining recording/reproducingcompatibility according to the present invention.

[0066] In step S1, a recording medium (a disc) is installed in arecording/reproducing apparatus. In step S2, the base part version atthe time of manufacturing of the recording/reproducing apparatus iscompared with the extended part version stored in the physical formatinformation zone of the recording medium. In step S3, it is determinedwhether or not the comparison in step S2 indicates that the partversions have recording compatibility. When the base part version of therecording/reproducing apparatus is equal to or later than the latestpart version having recording compatibility stored in the recordingmedium, recording/updating/reproducing operations are permitted in stepS4. When the result of step S3 indicates that the base part version hasno recording compatibility, it is determined whether or not the basepart version has reproducing compatibility in step S5. When the basepart version of the recording/reproducing apparatus is equal to or laterthan the latest part version having reproducing compatibility in therecording medium, only a reproducing operation is permitted in step S6.At this point, a step may be added in which a user is informed thatrecording cannot be performed.

[0067] When the result of S5 indicates the base part version has neitherrecording compatibility nor reproducing compatibility,recording/reproducing operations are prohibited in step S7. At thispoint, a step may be added in which a user is informed thatrecording/reproducing cannot be performed.

[0068] Though the embodiments related to a DVD-ROM and a DVD-RAM areexplained above, the present invention can be applied to thespecifications of all DVDs that can record or reproduce data.

[0069] As described above, the present invention maintains compatibilitywith the method for managing part version defined in the current DVDspecifications, and safely ignores information in a reserved zone in acontrol information zone which a recording/reproducing apparatus cannotread. By doing so, the present invention reduces booting time betweenthe first action of a disc in a recording/reproducing apparatus, and thetime when the recording/reproducing apparatus starts to read or writedata.

[0070] Also, the present invention enables accurate determination ofcompatibility between a recording/reproducing apparatus having aprevious part version and a recording medium having a new part version.This maximizes recording/reproducing compatibility between arecording/reproducing apparatus and a recording medium.

[0071] Although a few preferred embodiments of the present inventionhave been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilledin the art that changes may be made in these embodiments withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope ofwhich is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of recording compatibility informationon a recording medium, comprising: providing a physical formatinformation zone having a reserved zone; and recording extended partversion information in the reserved zone of the physical formatinformation zone, said recording of the extended part versioninformation comprising recording a detailed extended part versioncomprising a primary digit in the reserved zone.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the recording of the extended part version informationfurther comprises recording a latest part version having recordingcompatibility with a recording/reproducing apparatus of a givenspecification level in the reserved zone.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the recording of the extended part version information furthercomprises recording a latest part version having reproducingcompatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus in the reservedzone.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the recording of the latest partversion having recording compatibility with the recording/reproducingapparatus, and the recording of the latest part version havingreproducing compatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus, eachfurther comprise recording a primary digit in the reserved zone.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the recording of the detailed extended partversion, the recording of the latest part version having recordingcompatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus, and therecording of the latest part version having reproducing compatibilitywith the recording/reproducing apparatus each further comprise recordinga first sub-digit immediately after the first decimal place.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising recording said primary digit, andsaid first sub-digit in the form of n.x.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein n represents a specification change, and x represents aspecification change having no compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus.
 8. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising recording non-extended part version information in anunreserved zone of the physical format information zone, wherein saidnon-extended part version information indicates that the extended partversion information is recorded in a different location.
 9. A recordingmedium comprising: a physical format information zone having a reservedzone; and extended part version information in the reserved zone of saidphysical format information zone, said extended part version comprisinga detailed extended part version comprising a primary digit.
 10. Therecording medium of claim 9, wherein said extended part versioninformation further comprises a latest part version having recordingcompatibility with a recording/reproducing apparatus of a givenspecification level.
 11. The recording medium of claim 10, wherein saidextended part version information further comprises a latest partversion having reproducing compatibility with the recording/reproducingapparatus.
 12. The recording medium of claim 11, wherein said latestpart version having recording compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus, and said latest part version havingreproducing compatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus eachfurther comprise a primary digit.
 13. The recording medium of claim 12,wherein said detailed extended part version, said latest part versionhaving recording compatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus,and said latest part version having reproducing compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus each further comprise a first sub-digit.14. The recording medium of claim 13, wherein said primary digit andsaid first sub-digit are in the format n.x.
 15. The recording medium ofclaim 14, wherein n represents a specification change, and x representsa specification change having no compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus.
 16. The recording medium of claim 15,wherein said reserved zone is 6 bytes in size, and said detailedextended part version, said latest part version having recordingcompatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus, and said latestpart version having reproducing compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus, are each 2 bytes in size.
 17. Therecording medium of claim 16, wherein said primary digit and said firstsub-digit are each 4 bits in size.
 18. The recording medium of claim 17,wherein said physical format information zone further comprises anunreserved part version zone 4 bits in size, wherein said unreservedpart version zone is located at a byte position 0 of said physicalformat information zone, and said reserved zone of said physical formatinformation zone is located at a byte position 17 through a byteposition 22 of said physical format information zone.
 19. The recordingmedium of claim 18, wherein said detailed extended part version islocated at said byte position 17 through a byte position 18 of saidphysical format information zone, said latest part version havingrecording compatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus islocated at a byte position 19 through a byte position 20 of saidphysical format information zone, and said latest part version havingreproducing compatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus islocated at a byte position 21 through said byte position 22 of saidphysical format information zone.
 20. The recording medium of claim 19,wherein said primary digit is located at a bit 4 through a bit 7 of saidbyte positions 17 through 22 of said physical format information zone,and said first sub-digit is located at a bit 0 through a bit 3 of bytepositions 17 through 22 of said physical format information zone. 21.The recording medium of claim 20, wherein the recording medium is adigital versatile disc (DVD).
 22. A method of determining compatibilitybetween a recording medium and a recording/reproducing apparatus,comprising: installing said recording medium in saidrecording/reproducing apparatus; comparing a base part version of therecording/reproducing apparatus with a detailed extended part versionstored in a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of saidrecording medium; and determining recording compatibility based uponsaid step of comparing said base part version with said detailedextended part version, wherein said detailed extended part version isrecorded in the form of n.x.
 23. A method of determining compatibilitybetween a reproducing medium and a recording/reproducing apparatus,comprising: installing said reproducing medium in saidrecording/reproducing apparatus; comparing a base part version of therecording/reproducing apparatus with a detailed extended part versionstored in a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of saidreproducing medium; and determining reproducing compatibility based uponsaid step of comparing said base part version with said detailedextended part version wherein said detailed extended part version isrecorded in the form of n.x.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein saidcomparing of said base part version with said detailed extended partversion further comprises comparing said base part version with a latestpart version having recording compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus stored in said reserved zone.
 25. Themethod of claim 23, further comprising: comparing said base part versionwith a latest part version having reproducing compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus stored in said reserved zone; anddetermining a reproducing compatibility between the recording medium andthe recording/reproducing apparatus based upon said step of comparingsaid base part version with said latest part version having reproducingcompatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus.
 26. The methodof claim 25, wherein said reserved zone is 6 bytes in size, and saidlatest part version having recording compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus, and said latest part version havingreproducing compatibility with the recording/reproducing apparatus areeach in the form of n.x, wherein n represents a specification change,and x represents a specification change having no compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus.
 27. The method of claim 26, whereinsaid reserved zone is located at a byte position 17 through a byteposition 22 of said recording medium.
 28. The method of claim 25,wherein if the determining of the recording compatibility indicates thatthere is recording compatibility, then recording is permitted, and ifthe determining of the recording compatibility indicates that there isnot recording compatibility, then recording is prohibited; and if thedetermining of the reproducing compatibility indicates that there isreproducing compatibility, then the reproducing is permitted, and if thedetermining of the reproducing compatibility indicates that there is notreproducing compatibility, then reproducing is prohibited.
 29. Arecording/reproducing apparatus, comprising: a control unit to recordextended part version information in a reserved zone of a physicalformat information zone of a recording medium, and a reading unit toread the extended part version information from the recording medium,wherein the extended part version information in the reserved zonecomprises a primary digit.
 30. The recording/reproducing apparatus ofclaim 29, wherein the extended part version information comprises adetailed extended part version.
 31. The recording/reproducing apparatusof claim 30, wherein the extended part version information furthercomprises a latest part version having recording compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus in the reserved zone.
 32. Therecording/reproducing apparatus of claim 31, wherein the extended partversion comprises a latest part version having reproducing compatibilitywith the recording/reproducing apparatus.
 33. The recording/reproducingapparatus of claim 32, wherein the extended part version information inthe reserved zone comprises a first sub-digit immediately after saidprimary digit.
 34. The recording/reproducing apparatus of claim 33,wherein the control means records said primary digit, and said firstsub-digit in the form n.x.
 35. The recording/reproducing apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein n represents a specification change, and x representsa specification change having no compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus.
 36. The recording/reproducing apparatusof claim 35, wherein said detailed extended part version furthercomprises a latest part version having recording compatibility, and thecomparing unit compares said base part version with said detailedextended part version by comparing said base part version with thelatest part version having recording compatibility with therecording/reproducing apparatus stored in said reserved zone.